“…Aggregate state-level graduation rates are influenced-and differences among and between them may be explained-by three broad sets of variables. First, internal education variables, such as student characteristics and behaviors, have an influence on determining successful graduation outcomes within community colleges (Hoachlander, Sikora, & Horn, 2003;Jenkins, 2007). Second, external workforce development variablesfor example, demand for graduates of occupational programsmay impact the growth and composition of community college enrollment and graduation outcomes (Blackman, 2009;Van Noy & Jacobs, 2009).…”